At Lightning Speed? The Recent Surge of Long-Needed Changes to LCSH

Abstract

In the past few years, changes to longstanding problematic (dehumanizing, pejorative, marginalizing) Library of Congress Subject Headings are being made at an unprecedented rate. Particularly since the "lightning rod" of the urgency of changing the subject heading "Illegal aliens" galvanized the library world in 2016, so many have been changed recently that it's actually hard to keep up! This presentation gives a quick overview of newly created & changed subject headings, subject headings are still unchanged & needed headings that are still lacking, and changes currently in progress (as of March 2023).